The Subaru Forester is an emblematic car for the brand because it is the best-selling car in the world: more than 4.5 million units since the first generation was launched in 1997. This year it celebrates its 25th anniversary and it does so with the restyling of the fifth generation that arrived at dealerships in 2019.
Now the first units have arrived at the dealerships and we have had the opportunity to see it live and drive it in the national presentation. The changes are not especially significant and focus on aesthetic details on the outside and inside and on the safety equipment.
Slight cosmetic changes
The body measurements remain unchanged except in length, which increases 15 millimeters. On the outside it is distinguished by its new larger and darker grille, which now has a greater prominence due to smaller headlights. We also see that the lower skirt is larger and the design of the fog lights has been modified. The wheels are new design, 17-inch standard, or optional 18-inch. In addition, three new colors are incorporated , one of which is new to the brand, Cascade Green Silica. In total you can choose between ten colors for the bodywork.
Inside the aesthetic changes, the most notable changes are found in a new anti-glare interior rearview mirror, ambient ceiling light using LED lights and a new function that raises or lowers the temperature of two degrees by two degrees by hand gestures. We can choose between black cloth, black nappa leather and brown nappa leather upholstery.
The trunk maintains a good load capacity with 509 liters and as a novelty it incorporates two hooks in the upper part.
Improves safety in the Forester
Among the most important improvements we must highlight the safety equipment, already good in itself in the Forester and which is now extended with improvements within the Subaru ‘EyeSight’ safety system. Eleven functions are included as standard, including anti-collision braking, emergency steering control, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping control and following the vehicle ahead, lane departure warning, lane keeping emergency, throttle control and forward car advance warning. Automatic emergency steering, adaptive cruise control with lane centering and lane departure prevention by improving recognition of the dividing line of the road (grass or roadside) are three new functions.
The objective of the Japanese brand is to reduce to zero the number of accidents with victims in a Subaru in the year 2030. At the moment they are on the right track with a range of models that have the five stars of EuroNcap.
Subaru improves the angle of the cameras of this EyeSight system which results in a more effective lane centering function. The control of the road is greater and the limits of the road are recognized, so the vehicle stays more centered; the recognition range for vehicles entering the lane you are driving in has been extended by improving adaptive cruise control; and the area of operation for pre-collision braking is also increased, especially at intersections, thanks to a new stereo camera with a wider viewing angle and improved image recognition software.
Behind the wheel of the Subaru Forester
The hybrid powertrain does not change with the restyling and is the same as the Impreza and XV. It combines a 2.0 naturally aspirated e-Boxer four-cylinder petrol engine with a power of 150 hp that delivers between 5,600 and 6,000 rpm; an electric motor of only 12.3 kW (16.7 hp) and a small battery of only 0.6 kW capacity, 118 volts. Actually, although it is defined as a hybrid, this technology could be placed between an improved mild hybrid (they usually carry 48-volt batteries) and a hybrid, because its electrification is much less than that of a typical hybrid . And this shows for better and for worse. I explain.
For good because the electric motor provides a torque plus to the naturally aspirated gasoline engine at times when it needs it most, such as when starting or during acceleration, but it is barely capable of driving in electric mode. It also represents an improvement in efficiency or consumption, not that it is excessively appreciable because the battery is very small but it is appreciated in a car that has a rather high consumption. The approved consumption figure is 8.1 l/100 km. The weak points of this Subaru hybrid system are found in that it is a lazy engine below 2,500 laps, with a low torque of 194 Nm at 4,000 revolutions per minute. The 66 Nm of torque from the electric motor help but are not enough for really agile driving in a car that weighs 1,656 kilos. With the restyling, the engineers have improved the tuning of the suspension, it is balanced and it helps the overall handling of the Forester to be good.
The lack of thrust provided by a turbo engine is noticeable and that means that when you step on the accelerator asking for more, the sound level of the engine and also consumption rise. The good news is that Subaru has announced that it will improve the hybridization of its models with a more powerful electric motor and larger batteries , but that will be in the future, at the moment they have no date. The change is a 7-speed CVT automatic with which you can play manually with the paddles on the steering wheel.
As for off road performance , comment on the 1.3º improvement in the angle of attack compared to the previous version (21.4º). Ventral angle and departure angle remain at 21º and 25.8º, respectively. The ground clearance is 220 millimeters. Another interesting improvement is that the X-Mode traction system no longer disconnects when reaching 40 km/h , but remains in standby mode to be activated again when the speed drops below 35 km/h. It also improves hill descent control braking performance.
As a whole, it is a balanced SUV that has its good things, such as its eco label , symmetrical all-wheel drive, very good off-road performance, safety equipment that is one of the best on the market due to its good operation, and spaciousness of both the passenger compartment and the trunk. outstanding.
Subaru Forester Prices
The Subaru Forester is already on sale with three trim levels , Sport Plus, Executive and Executive Plus. Below we give you the prices that have already discounted 2,000 euros of campaign for all buyers:
- Subaru Forester Sport Plus : €35,400
- Subaru Forester Executive : €37,900
- Subaru Executive Plus : €39,900
